Bomb scare at Prestatyn beach after digger finds mortar

A BOMB scare was triggered after a JCB dug up a World War II mortar on a beach.

A BOMB scare was triggered after a JCB dug up a World War II mortar on a beach.

The digger was shifting sand and rocks on Ffrith beach, Prestatyn, when the driver noticed the bomb yesterday. A bomb disposal team was drafted in over fears of an explosion.

The driver immediately raised the alarm with the coastguard who sent the Rhyl team to the beach – who then called in the bomb squad from Chester.

A cordon was erected by coastguard and police officers as the bomb squad headed to the scene. The fire service were also called to the scene near Rhyl Golf Club.

A passer-by said: “We were walking down the beach and a vehicle came up to us and said ‘have you called the coastguard’. We said no and said it may have been the JCB driver who was just down the beach.

“They drove down to him and as we continued to walk along the beach suddenly more coastguard officers and the police turned up.

“We were told that the beach was being closed off and we could go no further.

“We asked what was happening and they said they had found a bomb and it was live. We didn’t need telling twice.”

He added: “It was very lucky that the driver had noticed the bomb and that he is an ex-military man who knew what it was and what to do. It is lucky he had not gone over the bomb, especially as we were close by as well.”

A spokeswoman for the coastguard said that one of their volunteers who was at work at the time raised the alert at around 1.30pm.

She added: “The squad dealt with the mortar which was then removed from the beach with the team. The coastguard then combed the beach to ensure there were no other mortars washed up in that area. The cordon was then lifted.”

WalesOnline is part of Media Wales, publisher of the Western Mail, South Wales Echo, Wales on Sunday and the seven Celtic weekly titles, offering you unique access to our audience across Wales online and in print.